ero--my
dear nephew Walter."

"Nay, aunt," he replied, "I don't think there was much moral courage
about it in my case. My blood was up when I saw Amos's life threatened,
and I should have pitched into the cowardly wretch if he had been as
tall as a lighthouse and as big as an elephant."

"True, dear boy, that was natural courage principally; but there was
moral courage too in your whole conduct in the matter, in the steady
perseverance with which you went to be your brother's protector, come
what might and at all hazards."

"Thank you, dear aunt, but you have given me more praise than I deserve.
And now for the special hero, the counterpart of Amos."

"My hero this time," said Miss Huntingdon, "is a very remarkable man, a
most excellent clergyman, Mr Fletcher of Madeley. He had a very
profligate nephew, a military man, who had been dismissed from the
Sardinian service for base and ungentlemanly conduct, had engaged in two
or three duels, and had wasted his means in vice and extravagance. One
day this nephew waited on his uncle, General de Gons, and, presenting a
loaded pistol, threatened to shoot him unless he would immediately
advance him five hundred crowns. The general, though a brave man, well
knew what a desperado he had to deal with, and gave a draft for the
money, at the same time expostulating with him freely on his conduct.
The young madman rode off triumphantly with his ill-gotten cheque. In
the evening, passing the door of Mr Fletcher, he determined to call on
him, and began by telling him how liberal General de Gons had been to
him, and, as a proof, exhibited the draft. Mr Fletcher took it from
his nephew, and looked at it with astonishment. Then, after some
remarks, putting it into his pocket, he said, `It strikes me, young man,
that you possessed yourself of this note by some indirect method; and in
honesty I cannot return it without my brother's knowledge and
approbation.' The young man's pistol was immediately at his uncle's
breast. `My life,' said Mr Fletcher, with perfect calmness, `is secure
in the protection of an Almighty Power, nor will he suffer it to be the
forfeit of my integrity and your rashness.'--This firmness staggered his
nephew, who exclaimed, `Why, Uncle de Gons, though an old soldier, was
more afraid of death than you are.'--`Afraid of death!' cried Mr
Fletcher. `Do you think I have been twenty-five years the minister of
the Lord of life, to be afraid of death now? No, s